Sunday, August 26, 2012

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom for the citizens of developing Commonwealth countries is now open for the 2013/2014 session. The prestigious scholarships cover full tuition fees, maintenance fund to study at a UK university as well as a return air ticket to the scholar’s home country.

Eligibility: To apply for the awards covered in this prospectus, candidates should:

– Be Commonwealth citizens, refugees, or British protected persons
– Be permanently resident in a Commonwealth country other than the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
– Be available to commence their academic studies in the United Kingdom by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2013
– Hold, by October 2013, a first degree of upper second class Honours standard (or above); or a second class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification, which will normally be a Master’s degree

AND

– For clinical training in the fields of medicine and dentistry, have qualified as a doctor or dentist between 1 October 2003 and 30 September 2008.

How to Apply:
– All applications must be made through your nominating agency (or university/university body, if applicable) in your home country. You must check with them in the first instance for specific advice on how to make an application and for their own closing date. The CSC cannot accept any applications direct from candidates.

– The CSC expects all Commonwealth Scholarship candidates to be nominated by an approved nominating agency/university/university body, and to have completed an application form using our Electronic Application System (EAS).

– 12-36 months’ support towards completion of either a full-time taught or a doctoral post graduate qualification at an eligible UK institution. These awards are open to those candidates nominated either by the Vice Chancellor/Executive Head of their employing institution or by the appointed agency in their home country
– 12 months’ non-degree study in the United Kingdom on a Split-Site basis to aid the completion of a doctoral degree undertaken at a university in the candidate’s home country
– 6 months’ clinical training in medicine or dentistry (available only to candidates from developing countries). These awards are open to candidates nominated by their Vice Chancellor/ Executive Head or by the appointed agency in the home country
– citizens of Seychelles can apply for undergraduate funding through their national nominating agency.

Nominations can be made through the following channels

– The candidate’s national Commonwealth Scholarship agency. This is the main route of application and a full list of Commonwealth Scholarship agency addresses can be accessed from the link below
– The Executive Head of an eligible developing country university on whose staff the applicant serves
– Selected non-governmental organisations, charitable bodies and development partnerships

Selection Criteria: Applications are considered according to the following selection criteria:

– Academic merit of the candidate
– The quality of the proposal
– For those candidates from developing Commonwealth countries (i.e. all others), the likely impact of the work on the development of the candidate’s home country.

Scholarship Worth:
Each Scholarship provides:

– Student concessionary or other approved airfare to the United Kingdom and return on expiry of the Scholarship
– Approved tuition and examination fees
– A personal maintenance allowance at the rate of £882 per month (£1091 per month for those studying at institutions in the London Metropolitan area)
– A grant towards the expenses of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable
– An initial arrival allowance, incorporating an initial clothing grant for Scholars from tropical countries
– A grant for expenses for approved travel within the United Kingdom or overseas
– A grant towards fieldwork costs for those Scholars undertaking doctoral studies for whom a case has been made for fieldwork outside the United Kingdom. This shall not normally exceed one economy class return airfare to the fieldwork location
– A paid mid-term fare to their home country for Scholars on three year doctoral awards. Scholars for whom fieldwork fares are provided to their home country shall not be entitled to a mid-term fare home, nor Scholars who have claimed (or intend to claim) spouse or child allowances for more than 12 months during their award
– For married Scholars selected by the Commission for awards exceeding 18 months, a marriage allowance of £220 per month is payable provided that the husband and wife (or civil partners) are residing together at the same address in the United Kingdom
– Similar awards may not be held concurrently.

Scholarship Application Deadline:

– All candidates must complete and submit their applications through the Electronic Application System on or before December 7, 2012. You can start your application early, save and complete it when you have all the information requested.
– Nominating Agencies are expected to submit their nominations in electronic format latest by December 21, 2012.